Picture a happy baby drifting off to sleep. What could be a more peaceful thought? We adults find serenity just imagining this moment.

Newborns and infants—and their parents—here in the Estes Valley can rejoice in a brand-new resource. The Library has collaborated with Estes Park’s board-certified music therapist, Nancy Bell, to release an original and professionally-recorded CD of lullabies: “Sweet Dreams: Tender Songs for Little Ones”.

Nancy has been working with the Library over the past five years, leading our Early Childhood Music Workshops, a multi-sensory experience for young children that spans the development milestones, building cognitive and motor functions through cooperative play.

Last summer, we asked Nancy if she would record her vocals to a lullabies CD that would become part of the Bags for Babies given to parents of every newborn in the Estes valley.

The project was nearly a year in the making. Nancy worked with Brett Wilson at SkyDance Mountain recording to achieve the highest quality for the CD, making many trips to Berthoud where Brett’s studio is located.

The ten songs featured on the CD were especially chosen for their soothing and light tones and melodies that would be pleasing to a baby’s ears. Songs include the traditional Welsh folk song, “All Through the Night”, the American folk song, “Sing Your Way Home”, and Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”.

Because babies don’t yet speak language like we do, we might think they aren’t yet ready to hear stories, songs, or to be read to. Yet nothing could be farther from reality. In fact, infancy is a critical time for babies to hear words and melodies—and for parents to read them stories.

During his or her first year, a baby’s mind is developing and organizing to take in all sounds. A baby is drawn to the human voice. And very quickly, they are understanding these sounds, building trust and confidence, and beginning to copy words and sounds.

On a cognitive level, a baby’s brain is forming synapses, which are the pathways between nerve cells. One thousand trillion synapses form in a child’s first eight months.

That’s why parents of newborns receive an invitation to stop by the Library and pick up a free Bag for Babies, which contains a board book, the booklets “Reading Aloud” and “Games to Play with Babies”, a baby toothbrush—and now, the CD, “Sweet Dreams”.

The Bags for Babies program has been going strong for many years. Materials are bundled in a charming cloth bag, hand-sewn by our own Library volunteer, Ginny Thompson.

The “Sweet Dreams” CD is not for sale—or found anywhere else. It will be used exclusively for the Bags for Babies. We thank the Estes Valley Library Friends & Foundation and the Bank of Colorado for the generous financial support that made this project possible.

And don’t forget that we grown-ups can keep our minds creative with the many unique items available for check-out. That includes our music-themed Discovery Kits: you can borrow and learn to play the ukulele, the pat bells, or the Tibetan singing bowl. Ask us about these on your next visit.

May the little ones of the Estes Valley—and their parents—enjoy these soothings sounds on their journey to happy dreams and imagination.